The People Vs. George Lucas

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All Rise...

Leave Judge Patrick Naugle to his Jar Jar Binks bed sheets.

The Charge

A long time ago at a Comic-Con far, far away…

The Case

So you went and saw a little movie called Star Wars in 1977 and
enjoyed the two sequels. End of story, right? WRONG! As epic as anything
conceived in a galaxy far, far away, the Star Wars saga has almost been
eclipsed by its master, George Lucas, and his decision to rework his
masterpieces into newer, bigger, and better versions. Actually, the term
better is up for debate, which is where The People vs. George
Lucas comes in. Dozens of fans and filmmakers take umbrage with Lucas and
his new 'versions' of movies that shaped their childhood. As the decades roll
on, the original versions of Star Wars we all collectively remember are
giving way to newer, slicker editions…but is that a good or a bad idea?
This documentary takes a hardnosed/humorous look at the phenomenon of Lucas and
his 'little space operas' in a whole new way.

The People vs. George Lucas can be summed up with one question: When
does art become property of the masses? More specifically, should fans be
subjected to George's revisions of his beloved Star Wars film series?

The history of the franchise is well known in most geek circles (and even
outside of them). In 1977, George Lucas gave the world Star Wars Episode IV:
A New Hope and the world embraced it with a collective hug. Flash forward 35
years and that movie—along with its two beloved sequels Star Wars
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the
Jedi—have been re-tooled, re-edited, and re-done to the point where
many fans don't feel it's the same saga they remember. Adding insult to injury,
Lucas wrote and directed three lackluster prequels (Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace,
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the
Clones, and Star Wars Episode III:
Revenge of the Sith) which were met with blockbuster openings and tepid fan
response. Over the years, Lucas has released, re-released, and
re-re-released his Star Wars movies on laserdisc, VHS, DVD, and
Blu-ray, each version featuring minor and major tweaks from their previous
incarnations. Where does it stop, if ever?

The People vs. George Lucas is essentially one long rant for the
fans. Although it certainly falls on the side of letting art stay as it was
originally created—e.g. "George, stop mucking around with your
movies!"—it also attempts to lend a sympathetic tone to Lucas and his
revisions. Although the man has made fans furious with his tinkering (and become
the one thing he always loathed: a businessman), moviegoers also wouldn't have
their beloved Star Wars universe without his vision and filmic genius. On
one hand, the Star Wars movies are owned by Lucas, and he should be
allowed to do whatever he wants with them. But is it hypocritical for a man who
stood up against Ted Turner for colorizing classic movies be allowed to rewrite
his own cinematic history? Weighty questions, indeed.

Lest this sound like a downer of a film, The People vs. George Lucas
is also a celebration of the entire Star Wars franchise; there are
interviews with fans, fan films (some good, some…not so good), fan videos,
fan writings (Wookie Poetry!), and fan appreciation for everything George has
given us. Director Alexandre O. Philippe (in his first major film) has given a
good portion of runtime to defending Lucas and his creations (well, except for
Jar Jar Binks). Interview subjects run the gamut from writer Neil Gaiman (Neverwhere) and producer Gary Kurtz
(The Empire Strikes Back), to casual fans and fan filmmakers, all
offering their personal opinions on the subject. While I wouldn't consider this
an exhaustive dissertation on the Star Wars universe, it's certainly a
fun look at how fans feel about Lucas and the decisions he's made.

When the dust finally settles, The People vs. George Lucas doesn't
really provide any rock solid answers. Some think Lucas is the devil, while
others hold him up as a film God to be revered for all eternity. While everyone
seems to want the original movies as they remember them, the idea of art vs. its
creator muddies the issue. Fans will find this love/hate relationship core of
the film fascinating, no matter what side you fall on.

The People vs. George Lucas is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic
widescreen. The transfer looks good, but is understandably uneven; some footage
is reference quality (like some fun animation sequences), while others look
mediocre (mostly the off-the-cuff interview segments). Considering the genre,
fans won't likely have a problem with the image quality.

The audio is presented in Dolby 5.1 Surround and, much like the video
transfer, the mix is neither exceptional nor poor. Dialogue, music, and effects
are all easily heard without any defects or interference. Also included are
English and Spanish subtitles.

Bonus materials are slim, but should satisfy fans. The best is a
screen-specific audio commentary with director Philippe, cinematographer Robert
Muratore, and editor Chard Herschberger; the three presenting a lively
discussion of the production. We also get bonus interviews with producer Gary
Kurtz, deleted poetry slam footage (yawn), a comment on the forthcoming 3D
versions, and a music video for the subtly titled song "George Lucas Raped
Our Childhood."

The Verdict

The People vs. George Lucas is a light hearted look at something that
is near and dear to many people's hearts. It may not be a probing expose, but it
is a lot of fun with some truly deep and pointed questions lurking under its
humorous surface.